Indigenous students are invited to attend a celebration and learning event on December 6. Attendees will enjoy lunch from Daily Bread and hear the stories of Indigenous students who have recently participated in global mobility programs in a peer-facilitated session.

This session, hosted by the International Centre and Student Affairs Assessment, Communications and Outreach will provide information about international opportunities and the associated funding supports that are available to UM Indigenous students.

One of the students who will be sharing their experience in one of the global mobility programs is Faith Bergman. Bergman is a Métis student in the Faculty of Arts studying Advanced Psychology. She participated in the International Centre (IC) exchange program, which took her to Adelaide, Australia for most of the Winter 2024 term. Support from IC and Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) funds allowed Bergman to make the most of her time. She shared how the experience brought her new appreciation for her studies. She notes that, “You’re gonna have to work with clients who have various different perspectives – like cultural perspectives that affect their lenses on different topics – and so I think that going to some countries that are very different than Canada … I can understand where they’re coming from a bit more.” These same experiences held further value as well. Bergman shared, “It made me just feel more excited to connect with my culture, because I hear people talking about their cultures and practices and how excited they are about them.” Read more about Bergman’s experience.

Kaidence Kalcsics, who participated in the Asper exchange, will also be sharing stories and benefits of the global mobility programs. If you would like to hear more about these experiences, register for this event in advance.

Event:
Friday, December 6, 2024
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Migizii Agamik Circle Room

Global Mobility Programs

If you would like to learn more about the global mobility programs and how they could benefit you in your studies, as well as whether you might be eligible for funding, visit the International Centre homepage. You can also reach out directly to the International Centre with any questions or to discuss your options at international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca. If you are eligible and would like to pursue GSO funding, contact GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for an application form.  

Bergman used GSO funds to make the most of her Winter 2024 term at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia! “The GSO definitely assisted in allowing me to take this experience to the fullest and do everything I wanted to do,” she explains. Not only did Bergman study in Adelaide, but, like many exchange students, she used the opportunity to experience a variety of other locations including Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane in Australia, and Vietnam and Bali in Asia! GSO funds can cover from 30–80% of costs associated with the outbound program students are embarking on. For example, Bergman was able to use GSO funds to cover a significant portion of her rent costs.

At the University of Manitoba, Bergman studies Advanced Psychology and is considering a career in the field of social work. She explains how studying abroad brought her a renewed appreciation for her studies. “Academic-wise, it was really good to go to a different university and see how their education is there … it made me feel more confident in my degree; it’s just a different perspective out there.” She also contemplates how her new experience interacting with a variety of cultures might help her in her future career in social work. “You’re gonna have to work with clients who have various different perspectives – like cultural perspectives that affect their lenses on different topics – and so I think that going to some countries that are very different than Canada … I can understand where they’re coming from a bit more.” Those cross-cultural experiences had personal value for Bergman, too. “It made me just feel more exited to connect with my culture, because I hear people talking about their cultures and practices and how excited they are about them.”

Another great benefit of Bergman’s overseas experience is the friendships she forged. She paints a beautiful picture of what her day-to-day looked like through the term: “Often my weeks would look like going to work and maybe meeting up for dinner, meeting up for drinks at a patio – because everything’s walking distance – just to connect and meet new people. But on other days it was often schoolwork, getting coffee, and going a walk down the river with my roommates. We did that a lot, actually. It’s a really nice river!” In addition to her roommates, Bergman made new friends from working at a café near her apartment. She came to describe these new connections as her community out in Australia. Reflecting on the overseas friendships she has maintained since coming home, she calls it “a different type of friendship that’s definitely lifelong.”

Of course, there were also challenges to overcome during her term abroad, but Bergman used them as learning opportunities. When she experienced a bout of homesickness, she reached out to the counselling centre at Flinders University and was met with a surprise. “The counselling was randomly paired, but she actually lived in Winnipeg for like 5 years. It was really funny; we were laughing about it!” In the end, Bergman found that her homesickness was short-lived and grew to appreciate it. “With the whole homesickness thing, it’s like a necessity, I would almost say … I’ve always been an independent person, but this challenged me in the way that I needed, she reflects.”

The UM International Centre (IC) was another invaluable support for Bergman. In the initial stages of planning for her student exchange, she recalls how the IC’S Mobility Team made preparation easier and less stressful by breaking up tasks into “bite-sized” pieces. “You are given so much time to prep and work,” explains Bergman, “…I found with the time given, almost a year of knowing… it’s actually very achievable.”

For Bergman, this exchange was something she wanted to do at the right point in her education. She describes wanting to travel more but not delay her degree and having countries she wanted to visit in her twenties. “It’s honestly a perfect time to chip away at your education but also enjoy things other than Canada.” With the GSO, she was able to accomplish her goals at the time that felt right for her instead of waiting until she could afford everything she wanted to do with this experience. “You can’t just bank on doing it one day,” she advises.

If you are seeking a challenging, skill-building, and friendship-forging experience like Bergman’s, what are you waiting for? The GSO can help you on your way, so don’t be afraid to apply! At the International Centre homepage, you can find information on all kinds of global mobility programs for students. A student exchange is only one of many possibilities! Don’t hesitate to reach out to the International Centre directly to ask questions and discuss your options at international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca. If you find a program that piques your interest, and you belong to one of the eligible categories for GSO funding, be sure to contact GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for an application form!

For Indigenous students interested in learning more about the Global Skills Opportunity and its opportunities abroad, there is an information session on December 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Migizii Agamik in the Circle Room.

GSO is a new initiative UM students can apply for to fund a variety of global mobility programs! This funding prioritizes groups of students who are typically underrepresented in global mobility programs, such as:

• Indigenous students
• Students from low-income backgrounds
• Disabled students
• Students who are visible minorities
• 2SLGBTQIA+ students
• Students who belong to minority faiths

McLandress’ GSO funding has gone towards her studies at Yonsei University in South Korea for the Fall 2024 term. She describes South Korea as a great fit for her interests, both personally and academically. Through her Intensive Korean class, McLandress is building on what she learned in Introduction to Korean at UM, all while practicing the language in her day-to-day interactions! As a history student, too, discovering South Korea’s heritage has been a fulfilling part of her experience so far. “There are so many interesting museums and historical sites here, it’s actually crazy,” she raves. “Just earlier today I saw the bridge where the massive prisoner of war exchanges happened, like between North Korea and South Korea […] There’s just so much history that I never thought I would be able to see and not just read about!”

As well as enhancing her academic life, McLandress’ exchange has helped her grow as a person and become more independent and confident. “I think at this point, after being here for almost two months, I fear nothing.” She explains how she’s ventured out of her comfort zone every day, like by pushing herself to book a hair appointment in Korean. “I have had to just say, like – ‘OK, this is terrifying, but I just have to do it.” Overcoming challenges and trying new things, she explains, has helped her develop a sense of independence.

Does McLandress’ story resonate with you? Maybe you want to explore another country or push yourself to be more independent. Reach out to the International Centre (IC), because a global mobility program could be exactly what you’re looking for! “The International Centre staff were so helpful, and I got so many really helpful resources and a lot of really good guidance,” explains McLandress. “Even if you don’t know anything, even if you don’t know where you want to go, even if you don’t know when or how you could make it work. You just, like, book an appointment! Just go!”

If you’re like McLandress and you’re interested in a global mobility program but don’t know if it’s feasible for you, the IC will advise you on whether GSO funding can help send you on your next adventure! You can check out the International Centre homepage for information on all student mobility programs and funding initiatives, including GSO, or contact international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca with general inquiries or GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for a GSO application form.